Coin holder



G. I. SPADARO Jan. 18, 1966 COIN HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P7519.

Filed Aug. 7, 1963 II a? urllfllllllllllllfl n/ uman" United StatesPatent 3,229,809 COIN HOLDER Giorgio I. Spadaro, Evanston, 111.,assignor to Simon L. Friedman, Chicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 7, 1963, Ser.No. 300,524 8 Claims. (Cl. 206.82)

This invention relates to a container useful for displaying andprotecting valuable flat objects, particularly rare coins.

Heretofore, containers used for displaying rare coins have not beenentirely satisfactory since adequate measures have not been taken toproperly protect the rare and valuable coins which are being displayed.For example, it is particularly desirable that the coin be protectedfrom adverse effects from the atmosphere so as to prevent tarnishing andother similar damaging effects on the coin.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novelcontainer useful for displaying and protecting rare coins.

It is a more specific objects of this invention to provide a coindisplay container which substantially prevents the ingress of air intothe coin display chamber whereby adverse atmospheric effects on the coinare substantially prevented.

Furthermore, not only is it important to provide a container whichadequately protects the coin, but it is also desirable that the samecontainer be highly suitable for displaying the coin.

Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to provide a coindisplay container wherein the coin is viewable from both sides.

It is another object of this invention to provide a coin display chamberwherein the coin is firmly held in place within the display chamber.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a coin displaycontainer wherein the coin is not only held firmly in place, but is alsocentrally located within the chamber, despite the particular size orshape of the coin being displayed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coin identificationarea on the coin display container.

It is still a further object of this invention to reduce damaging andsmearing of the coin-viewing windows by recessing the windows from theremainder of the container.

Further purposes and objects of this invention will appear as thisspecification proceeds.

Particular embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a coin display container;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but with the front and rear sidesseparated;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the inside of the rear part of the coindisplay container;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the inside of the front part of the coindisplay container;

FIGURE 7 is a broken perspective view of the dished terminal portion ofa spring holding means;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the inside of one part of an alternatecoin display container;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the inside of the mating part for theembodiment of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of the inside of one part of anotheralternate coin display container;

3,229,809 C Patented Jan. 18, 1966 FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of theinside of the mating part for the embodiment of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a vertical sectional view of the container parts of FIGURES8 and 9, While the parts are separated;

FIGURE 13 is a view, similar to FIGURE 12, except that the parts areshown together;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view of the container parts of FIGURESl0 and 11, while the parts are separated; and

FIGURE 15 is a view, similar to FIGURE 14, except that the parts areshown together.

Referring particularly to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-7, there is showna coin display container, generally indicated by the number 10, whichaccomplishes all of the aforementioned objects. The container 10includes a pair of mating parts 11 and 12, which together form a displaychamber 13 particularly for flat objects, such as coins. Means,generally 15, are provided for surrounding the chamber 13 in order tosubstantially eliminiate or prevent the passage of air into the chamber13. Flexible members 14a or 1417 are provided for maintaining the coinsor flat objects within the chamber 13.

Generally, the mating part 11 may be considered as the front portion ofthe container 10 and the mating part 12 may be considered as the rearportion of the container 10.

The front portion 11 includes a front surface 20 which is slightlytapered, side walls 21 which extend rearwardly from the front surface20, and a highly transparent window 22 centrally located on the frontsurface 20. It is advantageous that the window 22 be recessed below thesurface 20 since this reduces scratching and smudging of the Window 22and therefore assists in providing a clear view of the coins or otherflat objects displayed within the chamber 13. Also, the front part 11 isprovided with an inner end and rearwardly projecting ridge 25, which isspaced inwardly of side wall 21 and extends completely around theperiphery of the chamber 13.

The rear part 12 is provided with a slightly tapered rear surface 26,side walls 27 extending frontwardly from the surface 26, and a rearWindow 28 centrally located on the rear surface 26. Just as with thefront window 22, the rear window 28 is recessed from the surface 26 inorder to reduce smudging and damaging of the window. The side walls 27are adapted to meet the side walls 21 of the front part 11 in order toprovide a uniform exterior periphery for the container 10. Inside. ofthe mating part 12 is a frontwardly projecting continuous ridge 29 whichextends around the periphery of the space 13 and is adapted to slidinglytelescope within the ridge 25 of the front part 11.

The sliding mating of the rear part ridge 29 with the front part ridge25 provides the means 15 which surrounds the chamber 13 and whichsubstantially eliminates the ingress of air or moisture into the chamber13. Advantageously, the rear pa-rt ridge 29 has the outer surface 30 atsubstantially the same diameter as the inner surface 31 of the frontpart ridge 25 in order to provide a frictionallyformed seal for thechamber 13.

Preferably, both mating parts 11 and 12 are provided with a taperedupper Wall 32 or 33 which is useful for identifying the object withinthe chamber 13. The upper walls 32 and 33 are adapted to receive apressure sensitive identification strip, upon which may be writtendesired information concerning the coin. Furthermore, advantageously therear port-ion 12 is provided with pin members 35 which are adapted to bealigned with holes 36 in the front portion 11 so that the front portion11 and rear portion 12 are properly aligned. Also, since the matingparts fit tightly together, it is desirable that means be provided forreadily separating the front part 11 from the rear part 12. Therefore, aprojection 38 is provided 3 on the rear half 12 offset from a medianplane and a similar projection 39 is provided on the front half 11 sothat when assembled the projections 38 and 39 are laterally offset fromeach other and the parts 12 and 13 may be readily separated from eachother.

Ordinarily, the mating parts 11 and 12 are constructed of the samematerial and may readily be made of a molded plastic material.Furthermore, the windows 22 and 28 are to be substantially transparentso that the coin :being displayed in the chamber 13 can be viewed fromboth sides. Also, it is desirable that the front surface 20 and the rearsurface 26 of the container have a roughened surface, as would beprovided by sandblasting. The roughened surface has a two-fold advantagesince it provides an attractive contrast with the highly polishedwindows 22 and 28 whereby attention is directed to the coin displayedand secondly since any scratches or abrasions on the surfaces 20 or 26will not be noticeable; furthermore, the valley 45 positioned betweenrear part ridge 29 and rear walls 27 and the valley 46 positionedbetween the front part ridge 25 and the front walls 21 are alsoroughened in order to increase the desired contrast with the windows 22and 28.

The flexible members 14a or 14b which may be used for holding objectsfirmly in place within the chamber 13 are conveniently of two differenttypes. The first type 14a is integral with the rear part 12 and extendsforwardly from the inner face 40 of the window 28 towards the window 22.The members 14a are, for example, adapted to receive a large coin, suchas a silver dollar, and to firmly maintain the samein position withinthe chamber 13. It is important that the extensions or projections 14abe somewhat flexible so that they firmly hold coins of slightly varyingoutside diameters. For example, a newly minted coin has a somewhatlarger outside diameter than a coin of the same denomination which hasbeen in use for a number of years. For this reason the diametral spacingof projections 14a is preferably on the periphery of the smallest coindiameter expected for a particular coin denomination so that all largersizes of the coin denomination will be press fit between the projections14a.

The second type 14b of flexible member is advantageously .a flat springwhich is adapted to hold objects of widely varying shapes and sizeswithin the chamber 13. One or two spring members 1412 may be firmlypositioned within the rear half 12 of the container 10 in slight- Also,the spring members 14b are well adapted to centrally locate coins withinthe chamber 13 when two spring members are used since substantiallyequal pressures may be applied to the coin by the four retaining fingersof the two springs, as shown in FIGURE 5.

Although the method of using the container of FIG- URES 1-7 should beclear from the above description, briefly, when it is desired to displaya coin adapted to be held by projections 14a, such a coin is merelypushed into place between the projections. When it is desired to displaya coin substantially less than the inside diameter of the chamber 13,one or two spring members 14b are inserted in place in the rear part 12and the gripping fingers 42 are then positioned against the coin beingdisplayed. When the coin is desirably positioned within the rear part12, the front part 11 is aligned with the rear half 12 by inserting thepins 35 with-in the holes 36 and the mating parts are then pressedtogether. As the mating parts are being pressed together, the ridge 29of the rear portion 12 telescopes inside the ridge 25 of the front half11 so as to form -a seal 15 surrounding the chamber 13, forsubstantially preventing the ingress of air into the chamber 13. When itis desired to remove an object from the chamber 13, the mating parts 11and 12 are separated from each other by pushing the projection 38 of themating part 12 away from the projection 39 of the mating part 11.

Referring to FIGURES 8, 9, 12 and 13, an alternate coin holder 60 isillustrated. Generally, the alternate coin V holder 60 differs from theabove-described container 10 only in the means provided for sealing thecoin display chamber 62 and in the means used for maintaining a coin inplace within the container 60. In most other features, the embodiment 60is substantially the same as the first embodiment 10.

The container 60 includes a first part or half 64 and a second or matingpart 66 which together define the display chamber 62. The chamber 62 isperipherally sealed by I cooperation between the forwardly projectingconcentric ly less than semicircular alignment with the inner surfaceare maintained in place against a portion of the inner surface 43 bybeing positioned between the ribs 48 of the surface 43 and theprojections 14a. The ribs 48 are integral with the inner surface 43 andproject slightly therefrom. Adv-antageously, three ribs 48 are utilizedin association with two projections 14a, as shown in FIGURE 5, wherebytwo ribs 48 oppose the pressure exerted by one projection 14a againstthe stressed spring member 14b. In effect, the holding force exerted bythe stressed spring 14b against the projection 14a is enhanced by thetendency of ribs 48 to force the spring 14b tighter against theprojection 14a.

Referring to FIGURE 7, preferably the terminal portions 50 of thefingers 42 are dished inwardly at 52 so as to provide additionalgripping contact with thin coins. Also, the tapered leading edges 51 ofthe fingers 42 are adapted to grip the serrations on the periphery of acoin so as to provide additional gripping strength.

ridges 68 and 70 of the rear part 64 and the rearwardly projecting ridge72 of the front part 66. The ridge 72 is adapted to be receive in thecircular groove 74 formed between the concentric ridges 68 and 70 of thefront part 64. Specifically, the outer cylindrical surface 76 of theridge 72 is adapted to frictionally seal against the inner cylindricalsurface 78 of the outer ridge 68, while the inner cylindrical surface 80of the ridge 72 frictionally seals against the outer cylindrical surface82 of the inner ridge 70. Thus, a peripheral seal is provided for thedisplay chamber 62. v

In order to maintain a coin in place in chamber 62, the inner diameterof ridge 70 is constructed substantially equal to the diameter of a cointo be received therein. Further, in order to firmly grip a coin withinthe chamber 62, a plurality of small projections or strips 84 areprovided, preferably equally spaced, along the inner cylindrical surface86 of the ridge 70. The strips 84 are provided for firmly grasping acoin, and are particularly useful for firmly engaging serrations on theouter surface of a coin. In maintaining a coin within the chamber 62,the ridge or wall 70 may flex a slight degree in order to more firmlyhold a coin therein.

Referring to FIGURES 10, 11, 14 and 15, there is shown another alternateembodiment 90 of a coin display container. The embodiment 90 differsfrom the previously described embodiments primary in the means used forsealing the coin display chamber 92 and in the means used formaintaining a coin in the chamber 92.

In order to peripherally seal the chamber 92, there is co-operationbetween the rearwardly projecting ridge 94, of the front or first matingpart or half 96 and the frontwardly projetcing ridge 98 of the rear orsecond mating part 100. The ridge 94 includes a depressed inner step 101having an edge which is adapted to abut the edge 102 of the frontwardlyprojecting ridge 98; in a similar manner, the ridge 98 of the rear partincludes a depressed outer step 104 having an edge which is adapted toabut the edge 106 of the ridge 94. Furthermore, the inner cylindricalsurface 108 of the ridge 94 is adapted to frictionally seal against theouter cylindrical surface 110 of the ridge 98. Thus, a peripheral sealis provided for the coin display chamber 92.

In order to maintain a coin in place within the chamber 92, afrontwardly projecting ridge or wall 112 is provided in the chamber 92,integral with the rear part 100; the upper surface 114 thereof is inclose proximity to the inner surface or the window 116. Similar to theembodiment of FIGURES 8, 9, 12 and 13, a plurality of small strips orprojections 118 are provided along the inner cylindrical surface 120 ofthe wall 112 so as to more firmly grip a coin. As a coin is insertedinto the chamber 92 and as contact is made with the strips 118, the wall112 may flex outwardly slightly, in order to firmly receive a cointherein. As with the second embodiment of the present invention, theinner diameter of wall 112 is adapted to substantially conform to thediameter of the coin desired to be stored therein.

It is readily seen from the foregoing description that all of theforegoing purposes and objects have been accomplished by the describedcontainer. First, coins being displayed in the container will not becomereadily tarnished or damaged from the atmosphere since ingress of airinto the coin chamber is substantially prevented by the seal whichsurrounds the display chambers. Furthermore, the container isexceptionally well suited for displaying coins since both front and rearwindows are substantially transparent so as to permit clear viewing ofthe coin in the chamber. Also, by recessing the windows, scratching andsmudging of the windows are reduced so as to assist in providing a clearview of the coin. Still further, the coin is firmly held in place withinthe chamber by suitable means, and if desired the coin may be centrallylocated within the chamber, despite the particular size or shape of coinbeing shown.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of thisinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein without departing from theinvention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to coverall such changes and modifications as fall Within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desired to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is:

1. An improved container for both displaying and protecting a coin andthe like, said container being formed by a pair of generally flattenedmating parts of plastic material, each mating part having projectingfrom one side thereof a peripheral side wall and a circular ridge spacedlaterally inwardly of said peripheral side wall, the peripheral sidewalls of the pair of mating parts abutting each other along theirlengths to provide a substantially uniform'exterior periphery for thecontainer, at least one of said circular ridges on the pair of matingparts projecting beyond the plane of the edge of its associate peripheral side wall and telescoping with the other cincular ridge to define acircular coin display chamber centrally arranged on said container andlaterally surrounded by valley means composed of the spaces locatedlaterally between the mating peripheral side walls and the matingcircular ridges, the said valley means serving as dead-air space means,said circular telescoping ridges frictionally engaging each other toretain the mating parts together and to effect a seal surrounding saidchamber which substantially prevents ingress of air into said chamber,whereby tarnishing of said coin is substantially avoided, and meansprovided in said coin display chamber for engaging and securing a coinin place therein so as to prevent movement of the coin therein.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein each mating part is constructed andarranged to define a clear transparent window that is integral with themating part and is positioned to bound one side of the coin displaychamber, which window is recessed relative to the exterior of the matingpart to protect the window from scratching or smudging.

3. A device as in claim 1 including an elongated substantially flat walldefined on the exterior of at least one of the mating parts adjacent theperipheral edge of said part, said fiat wall being inclined relative tothe plane of abutment of the mating parts so as to define a displaysurface adapted for receiving identification indicia thereon.

4. A device as in claim 1 including a tab formed on each mating part andprojecting outwardly of the periphery thereof to provide means forselectively separating the mating parts.

5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the means for engaging the coinincludes at least one leaf spring element removably positioned in saidcoin display chamber.

6. An improved container for both displaying and protecting a coin andthe like, said container comprising front and rear mating parts ofgenerally flat appearance and formed of plastic material, each matingpart having projecting from one side thereof a peripheral side wall anda circular ridge spaced laterally inwardly of said peripheral side wall,the peripheral side walls of the pair of mating parts abutting eachother along their lengths to provide a substantially uniform exteriorperiphery for the container, at least one of said circular ridges on thepair of mating parts projecting beyond the plane of the edge of itsassociate periphery side wall and telescoping with the other circularridge to define a circular coin display chamber centrally arranged onsaid container and laterally surrounded by valley means composed of thespaces located laterally between the mating peripheral side walls andthe mating circular ridges, the said valley means serving as dead-airspace means, said telescoping circular ridges frictionally engaging eachother to retain the mating parts together and to effect a sealsurrounding said chamber which substantially prevents the ingress of airinto said chamber in order to avoid tarnishing of said coin, and meansincluding a plurality of spaced elements formed integrally on at leastone of said mating parts and being positioned peripherally of a circledisposed coaxially within said coin display chamber for centrallylocating a coin within said coin display chamber.

7. A device as in claim 6 including a pair of flexible spring membersengaged by certain of said spaced elements for maintaining a coin inplace within said chamber when said coin is of a diameter significantlyless than the inner diameter of said chamber.

8. A device as in claim 6 wherein said front and rear mating partsinclude cooperating means which engage each other and align said frontand rear parts for proper positioning, and integral outwardly projectingmeans are provided on the side walls of each of said parts for effectinga separation of said mating parts for opening said container for gainingaccess to the coin stored therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 478,947 7/ 1892Ames. 2,013,485 9/1935 Bary et a1. 2,289,872 7/1942 Brinkmann 2204 X2,389,312 11/1945 Honza 206-082 2,457,998 1/ 1949 Hayes et a1 206-0832,484,248 10/1949 Roehrl 2204 X 2,755,954 7/ 1956 Antritter 22042,803,865 8/1957 Eljanian et al 2204 X 3,028,949 4/ 1962 Sohosky 206-08"FOREIGN PATENTS 1,074,246 3/1954 France.

457,262 5/ 1950 Italy.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. M. CASKIE, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN IMPROVED CONTAINER FOR BOTH DISPLAYING AND PROTECTING A COIN ANDTHE LIKE, SAID CONTAINER BEING FORMED BY A PAIR OF GENERALLY FLATTENEDMATING PARTS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, EACH MATING PART HAVING PROJECTINGFROM ONE SIDE THEREOF A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL AND A CIRCULAR RIDGE SPACEDLATERALLY INWARDLY OF SAID PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL, THE PERIPHERAL SIDEWALLS OF THE PAIR OF MATING PARTS ABUTTING EACH OTHER ALONG THEIRLENGTHS TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM EXTERIOR PERIPHERY FOR THECONTAINER, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CIRCULAR RIDGES ON THE PAIR OF MATINGPARTS PROJECTING BEYOND THE PLANE OF THE EDGE OF ITS ASSOCIATEPERIPHERAL SIDE WALL AND TELESCOPING WITH THE OTHER CIRCULAR RIDGE TODEFINE A CIRCULAR COIN DISPLAY CHAMBER CENTRALLY ARRANGED ON SAIDCONTAINER AND LATERALLY SURROUNDED BY VALLEY MEANS COMPOSED OF THESPACES LOCATED LATERALLY BETWEEN THE MATING PERIPHERAL SIDE WALLS ANDTHE MATING CIRCULAR RIDGES, THE SAID VALLEY MEANS SERVING AS DEAD-AIRSPACE MEANS, SAID CIRCULAR TELESCOPING RIDGES FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING EACHOTHER TO RETAIN THE MATING PARTS TOGETHER AND TO EFFECT A SEALSURROUNDING SAID CHAMBER WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY PREVENTS INGRESS OF AIRINTO SAID CHAMBER, WHEREBY TARNISHING OF SAID COIN IS SUBSTANTIALLYAVOIDED, AND MEANS PROVIDED IN SAID COIN DISPLAY CHAMBER FOR ENGAGINGAND SECURING A COIN IN PLACE THEREIN SO AS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THECOIN THEREIN.